Library to identify and validate targets for microRNA regulation

Sigma Life Science, the biological products and services research business of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, today announced the availability of over 10,000 MISSION 3' UTR Lenti GoClones, powered by SwitchGear Genomics Inc, for straightforward microRNA (miRNA) target validation. This novel target reporter system combines SwitchGear Genomics’ reporter assay expertise with Sigma Life Science's patented lentiviral technology to provide ready-to-use vectors that can enable scientists to understand gene regulation in a variety of cell types, including primary cells. The library is available through Sigma Life Science’s fully searchable Your Favorite Gene powered by Ingenuity(YFG) web portal www.wherebiobegins.com/yfg

SwitchGear Genomics’ GoClone miRNA target sets are already widely used for investigation of gene regulation by micro RNAs and the availability of these highly regarded reporter vectors in Sigma’s versatile lentiviral format can provide stable transfection into a broad range of cell types – including difficult to transfect lines such as primary cells and stem cells – without the need for time-consuming and laborious reporter cloning.

Pre-designed CompoZr Knockout Zinc Finger Nucleases for entire human genome

Sigma Life Science, the biological products and services research business of Sigma-Aldrich, today announced the release of its pre-designed CompoZr Knockout Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) technology to knockout any gene in the human genome. The new offer, attractively priced to fit within the budget of a typical laboratory, can generate permanent and heritable gene knockouts in human cell lines within weeks.

Currently, few laboratories create gene knockouts in human cell lines because the inefficiencies of the natural cellular homologous recombination system and the investment of time and labor required to screen the resulting cells. In contrast, a wealth of peer-reviewed literature has shown that CompoZr ZFNs efficiently generate human cell lines with precise and stable gene knockouts in matter of weeks1.

Sigma-Aldrich takes over global Distribution for BASF pharma excipients in small pack sizes

BASF SE and Sigma-Aldrich have signed a global distribution agreement for a number of BASF’s pharmaceutical excipients. Sigma-Aldrich will repackage the products into small pack sizes making them available for academic orientated research and development segments like universities and laboratories.

Study of epigenetic proteins involved in cancer and stem cell biology

Domainex Ltd, the contract research organization, today announced a collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich that will provide essential tools, including biochemical assays and monoclonal antibodies, for the study of proteins involved in the rapidly developing field of epigenetics.

These epigenetic proteins regulate DNA expression and can be critical to cancer and stem cell biology research. Funding from the UK Government-backed Technology Strategy Board will support this work.